Erma R. Klein, 91, Hebron, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025 in Dickinson, surrounded by her family. Erma’s Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. CT, Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the First Baptist Church, Hebron with Pastor Marcy Dawson as officiant. Interment will follow at the First Congregational Cemetery, Hebron. Visitation will be from 5 p.m.to 6 p.m. MT, Friday, April 11, 2025 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a prayer service at 6 p.m. MT. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Erma Rose Steingrueber was born on April 5, 1933 to George and Caroline (Merkel) Steingrueber in Hebron. She passed away on April 3, on her mother’s birthday and two days short of the age of 92. She fought cancer for over five years and outlived the Dr.’s expectations twice.
The family moved to Washington for a couple of years and moved back to the family farm southwest of Hebron. Upon graduating from Hebron, she attended college and earned her teaching certificate. She taught at a country school and boarded with the Jahraus family southwest of Hebron. She met and married Raymond Klein on June 21, 1953. They moved to Minneapolis, MN for a couple of years where David was born. They returned home and they eventually took over the Klein farm (which was originally Erma’s great-uncle Henry Neidhardt’s farm). They had three more children, Jacqueline, Jocelyn, and Dale. Erma was a hard worker and never complained about all the work. She raised and butchered chickens, planted a huge garden and potato/corn patch and she canned thousands of jars of vegetables, fruit, sausage, chicken, and pickles. They milked cows, sold cream and eggs. She also maintained the tree groves and of course all this with the help of their four kids! They sold the dairy cows and started driving a bus route. She also started to work in the kitchen at the school and was hired as a teacher’s aide (K-4) for 51 years, until she retired. She loved the kids and this was the job she truly enjoyed. Even outside of school, the kids loved her and would just flock around her.
Erma could play violin, accordion, piano and organ. She played piano for her church for over 48 years and later for Glen Ullin church too. At age 90, she still had a beautiful garden and shared it with family and friends. She was a great cook and baker. Some favorites were caramel rolls and kuchen. She made her own bread weekly and was well known locally for her famous potato salad and her pickles. She enjoyed being with family and friends, playing cards, games, puzzles, word search and embroidering. She taught her kids to work hard, share what you can, appreciate what you have, trust, and pray to God and attend church.
She was a member of Dollars for Scholars, 4-H leader, Homemakers, Senior Citizens, and First Congregational Church serving as secretary and Sunday School Teacher, and Guiding Light for 62 years. She leaves to mourn her children, David (Wanda) Klein, Jackie (Ryan) Lefor, Jocelyn (Jeff) Imhoff, and Dale Klein; grandchildren, Ben (Katlin) Klein, Justin (Becky) Klein, Miranda Marx, Matthew (Brooke) Anderson, Jason (Jenn) Brandt, Kelly (Briana) Brandt, Patrick (Lindsey) Brandt, Melanie (Dustin) Wilhelm, Joshua Kottenbrock (special friend, Kaare), Brianna (Derek) Imhoff Grondahl, Tessa Klein, and Lauren Schmidt (fiancé, Alec); great-grandchildren, Logan (Aby) Ackerman, Meghan Ackerman, Makena Klein, Landen Klein, Azlynn Klein, Braelynn Klein, and Emberlynn Klein, Grayson Marx, Arabella Marx, Austi Brandt, Reed Brandt, Averi Brandt, Cade Brandt, Madisyn Edmisten, McKenna Edmisten, Mckenzie (Khia) Wilhelm, Daymian (Hope) Wilhelm, Noah Wilhelm, Aunika Wilhelm, Sol Klein, Camden Schmidt, Zaylee Schmidt, and Ava Imhoff Grondahl; great-grandchildren, Noah Ackerman, Mateo Yellowbird, and Jewl Wilhelm; sister-in-law, Lorraine Steingrueber; and cousins, Nancy, Iva, and JoAnn.
Preceding her in death are her husband, Raymond (2010) of 57 years; her parents; brother, Leo Steingrueber; in-laws, Anna and Henry Klein; brothers-in-law, Harold and Kenny Klein; niece Patricia Cannon; and friends, Geig and Linda Schneider.
